Machine for processing or conditioning finished panels of mattresses



J. C. KLINE MACHINE FOR PROCESSING OR CONDITIONING FINISHED PANELS OF MATTRESSES Feb. 25, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 21, 1962 llll rxlllll INVENTOR. JOHN c. KLINE WbLQ m his A T TORNEY J. C. KLINE MACHINE FOR PROCESSING OR CONDITIONING FINISHED PANELS OF MATTRESSES Feb. 25, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 21, 1962 INVENTOR. JOHN C. KLINE BY 5Z3 his ATTORNEY Feb. 25, 1964 J. c. KLINE 3,122,112

MACHINE FOR PROCESSING 0R CONDITIONING FINISHED PANELS OF MATTRESSES Filed Aug. 21, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVEN TOR. JOHN C. KLINE WWW his AT TORNEY' Feb. 25, 1964 J, c. KLINE 3,122,112

MACHINE FOR PROCESSING 0R CONDITIONING FINISHED PANELS 0F MATTRESSES Filed Aug. 21, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG. 6

NTOR. OHN c. KLINE V INVE his ATTORNE United States Patent 3,122,112 IvfACHlPlE FOR PROCESSiNG 0R CONDETTONING FINESEED PANELS 0F MATTRESSES John C. Kline, IVierrick, N.Y., assignor to Eclipse Sleep Products, 1512., Brooklyn, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Aug. 21, 1962', Ser. No. 218,284 7 Claims. {CL 1123) This invention relates to machines for processing or conditioning finished panels of mattresses or the like.

Among the objects of the present invention it is aimed to provide an improved machine for processing or conditioning the finished panels of mattresses or the like which includes a transportable main frame longitudinally movable to and from a sewing machine, a turntable mounted on said main frame having two platforms movable into two positions, one platform when said main frame is spaced from the sewing machine while in one position facing upwardly initially to receive a panel frame, in turn to receive an unfinished panel set, and the turntable actuated to bring said unfinished panel set to face downwardly, the main frame thereupon is moved adjacent to the sewing machine, and the other platform empty and facing upwardly, when said main frame is disposed adjacent to said sewing machine, initially receiving a panel frame having a finished panel thereon from the sewing machine, the turntable actuated while the main frame is still disposed adjacent to the sewing machine to bring the platform supporting the panel frame and unfinished panel set to register with the receiving end of the sewing machine to enable the unfinished panel set to be transferred to the sewing machine for the sewing operation, the main frame thereupon returned to the first longitudinal position spaced from the sewing machine, the turntable again actuated to cause the platform with the finished panel to face upwardly, removing the finished panel from the upper face of the platform and preparing the same for the reception of a successive panel frame and unfinished panel set.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an improved machine for preparing finished panels for mattresses consisting in securing the parts of an unfinished panel set to one another in an upwardly facing seat of a panel frame at one longitudinal location, inverting the upwardly facing seat with the unfinished panel set and exposing a second empty seat to face upwardly, moving the seats longitudinally toward the sewing machine, transferring a previously processed, now finished panel, from the sewing machine to the second empty seat, thereupon inverting the seats and alining the first seat with the sewing machine, transferring the unfinished panel set from the first seat into the sewing machine, thereupon moving the seats longitudinally into spaced relation to the sewing machine, inverting the seats so that the seat with the finished panel faces upwardly, thereupon discharging the finished panel and preparing the seat of the finished panel new empty for the next successive unfinished panel set.

These and other features, capabilities and advantages of the present invention will appear from the subjoined detailed description of one specific embodiment thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmental side elevation of the machine in operative association with a sewing machine.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the machine.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the machine.

FIG. 4 is an end elevation of the machine shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an end elevation similar to FIG. 4 showing the turntable slightly tilted.

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FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmental view partly in section of the upper part of FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmental View partly in section of the upper right hand end of FIG. 2.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmental side elevation of a part of the panel frame.

FIG. 9 is a section on the line 9-9 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a section on the line Ill-1i) of FIG. 8.

FIG. 11 is a transverse fragmental detail of the gripper when initially contacting a panel set.

FIG. 12 is a fragmental detail showing the grippers in engagement with the panel set and after having drawn it into final taut position.

FIG. 13 is a fragmental plan View of the combination shown in FIG. 1.

In the embodiment shown there is illustrated a main frame '1 consisting of four parts, two front uprights 2 and two rear uprights 3. The uprights 2 and 3 on each side of the machine are connected by the upper and lower longitudinally extending bars 4 and 5 of the tie rods o, 7, 8 and 9. The front uprights 2 and 2 are connected to one another by the upper transversely extending angle irons 19 and the lower transversely extending angle irons 11 which are connected to one another by the A frame 12. The rear uprights 3 and 3 are similarly connected to one another by transversely extending angle irons such as the angle irons it and 11 and an A frame such as the A frame 12.

At the apex of the A frame 12 and at the middle of the upper transversely extending angle irons 1t 10, there are provided openings to receive the pivot pins 13 and 14- forrned at the ends of the rod 15.

The pivot pins 13 and 14 are journalled in the brackets 16 mounted in the upper transversely extending angle irons 10 of the end frames. The shaft 15 in turn is mounted in the end plates 17 of the turntable 18. On the opposite edges of the end plates 17 there are secured the base walls or platforms 19 md 2%. These platforms each have U-shaped angle irons 21 and 22 at their sides to form tracks for receiving the four rollers 23, 24, 25 and 26 at the ends of the angle irons 84, 85. The stub shafts of the rollers 23, 24, 25 and 26 are mounted in the brackets 28, 29, 3% and '31 mounted on the ends of the angle irons 84, S5 of the webs 33, 34 respectively which have transversely extending end walls and longitudinally extending we'os 35', 36 constituting side Walls in the present instance spaced from the longitudinal sides of the panel platform 32. The webs 35, 36 are the vertical webs of the side angle irons 86, 87 respec tively' of the panel frames 27. In the brackets 37 extending outwardly from the webs 35 and 36 there are rotatably mounted the rods 38 and '3? respectively to which are fixed the links 40' which are pivotally connected to the angle irons 43. having arcuate slots 42 to receive the pins 43 fixed in the brackets 37. The angle irons 41 in turn are connected at their free ends to the webs 44 of the angle irons 45, which have webs 47 disposed preferably at right angles to the webs 44- which constitute grippers extending toward the panel frame 27 when the angle irons 41 are swung into substantially horizontal position. The angle irons 45 are disposed parallel to the webs 35 and 36 respectively. The grippers 47, see FIGS. 11 and 12, initially grip the material of the panel set 51 and then as the lever is pressed down away from the webs 35, 36, the grippers 47 will engage the ticking or upper sheet of the panel set 51 and pull it toward the webs 35, 36. When all four gripper sets 47 on the four sides of the panel 51 are so actuated, they will pull the ticking and therewith the set 5-1 into tight relationship preparatory to being sewed.

The webs 33 and "34 have brackets 48 similar to the brackets 37 rotatably supporting the rod or shaft 49 similar to the shafts '38 and 39 and have secured thereto links and angle irons similar to the links it? and angle irons 41 and in turn also have grippers similar to the flanges of the webs 47.

In operation, when the main frame 1 is spaced from the sewing machine 59, the panel platform 32 of the then upper base platform 19, 20, will have a set 51 of fillers for a finished panel of a mattress placed thereon, the fillers generally consisting of a set of ticking and felt, or ticking, felt and sisal, or ticking, foam rubber and sisal, or ticking, polyurethane and sisal placed thereon and clamped down by the grippers %7 into the position shown in FIG. 3.

The frame 1 is now in position to be moved towards the sewing machine 50. For this purpose the parallel tracks 52 and 53 are provided to receive the sheaved rollers 54 journalled in the brackets 55 at the lower ends of the uprights 2 and 3. These tracks 52 and 53 extend toward the sewing machine 50.

For anchoring the panel frames 27 on the panel platforms 32, see FIGS. 2 and 6, there are provided dogs 56 pivotally anchored on the angle irons 57 connected to the lower faces of the horizontal web 32 of the angle iron 83 secured to the inner face of the then upper platform 32 inside of the opening 58 registering with one of the brackets '31 at the ends of the angle irons 84, 85., When the panel frame 27 to which the rollers 23, 24, and 26 are connected are moved onto the panel platform 32, then facing upwardly, when the advanced bracket 31 in the present instance crosses the dog 56, it will depress the same against the tension of the spring 60, see FIG. 6, and permit the bracket 31 and therewith the panel frame 27 to advance to the forward end of the main frame 1. As soon as the bracket 31 clears the dog 56 due to the spring 60, the dog 56 will snap back again to project through the opening 58 in the platform 32 in the position shown in FIG. 6. The spring 69 connects the lower arm 61 of the dog 56 to the end plate 17 on the platform 32, then facing downwardly. This lower arm 61 is connected by the rod 63 to the button 64 slidably mounted in the slot 65 disposed at the right hand end of the main frame, see FIG. 2. When it is desired to release the panel frame 27 from the panel platform 32 .either to transfer a panel frame 27 with a new panel set 51 into the sewing machine or to remove the panel frame 27 from the platform 32 when the main frame 1 is spaced from the sewing machine, and the panel set 51 on the panel frame 27 has been sewn together by the sewing machine,

it will be necessary for the operator first to move the knob 64 to the right and swing the dog 56 so that it "clearsthe opening 58 in the platform 32;, then facing upwardly so that the bracket 31 will pass over the dog 56 and not be obstructed by it.

Furthermore, to anchor the panel frame 27 in a horizontal position, that shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, as an instance, there is provided'a plate 63 secured to the rear end of the platform 32, see FIGS. '3 and 7, which plate '68 has an opening therein to slidably receive means or a device such as the pin or rod 69 slidably mounted in the bracket 70 having a'pin 71 extending through the slot 72 with a button 73 at the outer end thereof. The

V bracket 70 is connected to the angle irons 83 of the panel platform 32; At the ends of the slot 72 there are provided. the transverse enlargements 76 to permit'the but ton 73to be; moved in either direction away from the main slot '72 to anchor the rod -69 either in the forward position'when the pin 71 rests in the front enlargement V r 76 where it clears the opening in the frame "3, in which position the panel platform 32 may he turned to' swing the then upwardly facing panel frame 27 downwardly and the then downwardly facing panel frame 27 upwardly. Inturn, afterthe panel frames 27 are again moved into a horizontal position,.the button 73 may be released from the enlargement 76 to slide into the main opening Q Permit the d' 69 to e er the opening in the frame 3 and anchor the platforms 32 and panel frames 27 in horizontal position when the pin 71 may be moved into the rear enlargement 76.

In order to anchor the grippers 47 in gripping position, relianw is not only placed upon the Weight of the arms 41 to maintain the grippers 47 in gripping position, but also upon the cam 77 fixed on the shaft 39. The cam 77 has a shoulder 78 to cooperate with the shoulder 79 on the arm 80 pivoted at 81 to the bracket 37. The cam 77 thus moves with the lever 40 toward the side walls 65, 36 but permits the free movement of the lever so away from the side walls 35, 36 that is into gripping position of the grippers 47 with the panel set. The cam 77 and arm '80 thus cooperate to allow the grippers 47 to move into position to enable positioning a new set 5 1 on the panel frame 27 and in turn to remove a completed set 51 after it has been sewn by the sewing machine 50. On the other hand, when the cam 77 is moved with the lever 40* toward the webs 35, 36 the shoulder 79 on the arm 80 will drop into engagement with the shoulder 78 and anchor the grippers 47 in gripping position until the arm 80 has been raised and the grippers 47 and the levers 40 with the earns 77 are moved away from the webs 35, 36.

In operation, assuming the sewing machine to be empty, and the frame 1 to be spaced from the sewing machine 50, in the full line position 67 shown in FIG. 1, and at least the upper panel frame 27 anchored in position on the panel platform 32 by a dog 56, and the grippers 47 are in erect position clearing the panel frame 27, a new panel set 51 may be positioned on the panel frame 27, and then the grippers 47 actuated into gripping position, that shown in FIG. 3. Thereupon the frame 1 may be moved along the tracks 52 and 53 toward the sewing machine 50, the panel frame 27 with the panel set 51 released by actuating the knob 64 to depress the dog 56 and move the panel frame 27 into operative position with the sewing machine 50 clearing the platform 32.

Thereupon the main frame 1 may be moved back into spaced relation with the sewing machine 50, a new panel frame 27 placed on the then upwardly facing panel platform 32, a new panel set 51. placed on the panel frame 27 and the grippers moved downwardly into gripping position with the same. Thereupon the main frame 1 may again be moved adjacent the sewing machine 59 and if the panel set 51 previously introduced into the sewing'machine 5-3 has now been fully sewn, the panel platform 32'may be released by movim the rod 65 clear of the plate 68, turn the panel frame 27. with the panel platform 32, then facing upwardly into downwardly facing position and.

anchor the platforms 32 in horizontal position by returning the rod 69 into the opening in the frame 3.

It Will be assumed that the then upwardly facing plat- 7 panel set 51 then facing downwardly now'swung into upwardly facing position in alinement with the. platform of the sewing machine 50 where the panelplatforms .32 will be horizontal.

The rod-69 may now be returned into the frame 3 to anchor the platforms 32 in their new position. Thereupon the panel'27 with the freshly supplied panel set 51 may:

now he slid into the sewing machine and the sewing machine started for sewing it.

Thereupon the mainframe 1 may again bemoved into spaced relationship with the sewing machine 50 in the full line position 67 shown in FIG. 1 and now the rod 63 again slid out of engagement with the' frame}; and the turntable swung so that the panel platform 32, then in downwardly facing position will be swung into upwardly facing position, the rod 69 slid back into the opening in the frame 3, the grippers 47 released from engagement with the completely sewn panel set 51 on the panel frame 27, and the panel set 51 so released then removed for further processing.

The sewing machine frame 59 has secured thereto a skeleton platform 37 to receive the panel frame 27 with a panel set 51. The skeleton frame 37 has angle irons constituting tracks for the wheels or rollers 23, 24, 25 and 26. The front end of the angle irons 38 are bent outwardly constituting cams to facilitate guiding the wheels 23, 24, 25 and 26 onto the tracks should they not accurately register with the tracks 83 when leaving the tracks 21 and 22 of the platforms 32. At the rear end of the skeleton frame 87 there is pivotally mounted a dog 99, the upper arm 91 of which is in the path of move ment of a bracket 57 of the panel frame 27 to rock the same clear of the bracket 57 against the tension of the spring 92 which connects the lower arm 93 to the abutment 9 on the skeleton frame 87. The lower arm 93 is further connected by the wire 95 to the ring 9% after passing through the hasp 97 at the front end of the skeleton frame 87. When it is desired to remove a panel 27 from a skeleton frame 87, if the sewing has been completed, it is only necessary to engage the ring 96 and pull it and with it the wire 95 and lower arm 93 against the tension of the spring 92, to clear the upper arm out of the path of movement of the bracket 57.

For cooperation with the angle irons 84 and 31 there are provided on the platforms 32, the angle irons 93 having the upwardly extending flanges 99 to serve as limiting stops for the panel frames 27.

Also it will be apparent that the cams 77 and associated levers 79 need only be provided for one set of the grippers 47 on each of the four sides of the panel frames 27 It is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made to the details of construction without departing from the general spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a machine for processing the panel sets of a mattress, the combination of a sewing machine, tracks extend ing toward said sewing machine, a main frame mounted on said tracks to move from a position spaced from said sewing machine where it receives an unfinished panel set into a position adjacent said sewing machine to enable an unfinished panel set to be transported from said main frame into said sewing machine and to receive a finished panel set after it has been sewn in said sewing machine, a turntable rotatably mounted on said main frame having two parallel platforms, devices for anchoring said platforms in horizontal position, one platform facing upwardly and the other platform facing downwardly, panel frames to receive panel sets slidably mounted on said platforms, and grippers gripping the edges of the panel sets holding said panel sets on said panel frames, said tracks enabling said main frame with the upper platform empty and the lower platform carrying a panel frame having an unfinished panel set to be moved adjacent said sewing machine and slidably receive a panel frame with a finished panel set from said sewing machine onto said empty platform, said turntable when thereupon being inverted enabling the panel frame with the unfinished panel set then facing upwardly to be moved into said sewing machine, said tracks in turn enabling said main frame to be moved into spaced relationship with said sewing machine where said finished panel set may be removed from the panel frame after the turntable has been inverted to allow the panel frame with the finished panel set to face upwardly.

2. In a machine for processing the panel sets of a mattress, the combination of a main frame, a sewing machine, tracks eXtendlng toward said sewing machine, said main frame movably mounted on said tracks to be moved to and from said sewing machine, a turntable rotatably mounted on said main frame having parallel platforms, devices anchoring said turntable in one position to have one platform facing upwardly and in another position to have the other platform facing upward- 1y, panel frames slidably mounted on said platforms, panel sets, and grippers gripping the edges of said panel sets on said panel frames, said turntable when moved adjacent said sewing machine with said main frame in one position enabling the panel frame facing upwardly to be transported from the platform then facing upward ly into said sewing machine, and subsequently again to receive the panel frame with the finished panel set from said sewing machine.

3. The combination of a main frame, a turntable mounted on said main frame having two horizontally positioned platforms, one facing upwardly and the other fac ing downwardly, panel frames slidably mounted upon said platforms, grippers for gripping the edges of panel sets on said frames, means for locating said turntable to receive a sewn panel set on the panel frame facing upwardly, and means for enabling said turntable thereupon to be inverted and discharge a previously received unsewn panel set for the sewing process.

4. The combination of a main frame, a turntable on said main frame having two horizontally positioned platforms, one platform facing upwardly and the other platform facing downwardly, panel frames slidably mounted on said platforms for receiving an unfinished panel set on one frame and a finished panel set on the other frame at one and the same time, means for anchoring said turntable in one position where one platform faces upwardly slidably to receive a panel frame with a finished panel set, and means for thereupon anchoring said turntable in another position where the other platform faces upwardly slidably to discharge a frame with an unfinished panel set for the sewing process.

5. In a machine for processing the panel sets of a mattress, the combination of a main frame, a turntable mounted on said main frame having parallel platforms, devices anchoring said turntable in one position to have one platform facing upwardly and in another position to have the other platform facing upwardly, panel frames slidably mounted on said platform, panel sets, and grippers gripping the edges of said panel sets on said panel frames, said turntable in one position enabling a panel frame to be received and discharged from the platform then facing upwardly and upon inverting the turntable in another position to receive and discharge the other panel frame from the platform then facing upwardly.

6. The combination as set forth in claim 5 in which dogs are resiliently mounted on said platforms engaging said panel frames to anchor them on said platforms, and means for actuating said dogs to release said panel frames for slidable movement from said platforms.

7. The combination as set forth in claim 5 in which channels are formed on said platforms, rollers mounted on said panel frames to travel in said channels and thus slidably mount said panel frames on said platforms.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,947,217 Micon Feb. 13, 1934 2,501,240 Schwartz Mar. 21, 1950 2,538,334 Schwartz Jan. 16, 1951 2,934,219 Stumpf Apr. 26, 1960 

1. IN A MACHINE FOR PROCESSING THE PANEL SETS OF A MATTRESS, THE COMBINATION OF A SEWING MACHINE, TRACKS EXTENDING TOWARD SAID SEWING MACHINE, A MAIN FRAME MOUNTED ON SAID TRACKS TO MOVE FROM A POSITION SPACED FROM SAID SEWING MACHINE WHERE IT RECEIVES AN UNFINISHED PANEL SET INTO A POSITION ADJACENT SAID SEWING MACHINE TO ENABLE AN UNFINISHED PANEL SET TO BE TRANSPORTED FROM SAID MAIN FRAME INTO SAID SEWING MACHINE AND TO RECEIVE A FINISHED PANEL SET AFTER IT HAS BEEN SEWN IN SAID SEWING MACHINE, A TURNTABLE ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID MAIN FRAME HAVING TWO PARALLEL PLATFORMS, DEVICES FOR ANCHORING SAID PLATFORMS IN HORIZONTAL POSITION, ONE PLATFORM FACING UPWARDLY AND THE OTHER PLATFORM FACING DOWNWARDLY, PANEL FRAMES TO RECEIVE PANEL SETS SLIDABLY MOUNTED ON SAID PLATFORMS, AND GRIPPERS GRIPPING THE EDGES OF THE PANEL SETS HOLDING SAID PANEL SETS ON SAID PANEL FRAMES, SAID TRACKS ENABLING SAID MAIN FRAME WITH THE UPPER PLATFORM EMPTY AND THE LOWER PLATFORM CARRYING A PANEL FRAME HAVING AN UNFINISHED PANEL SET TO BE MOVED ADJACENT SAID SEWING MACHINE AND SLIDABLY RECEIVE A PANEL FRAME WITH A FINISHED PANEL SET FROM SAID SEWING MACHINE ONTO SAID EMPTY PLATFORM, SAID TURNTABLE WHEN THEREUPON BEING INVERTED ENABLING THE PANEL FRAME WITH THE UNFINISHED PANEL SET THEN FACING UPWARDLY TO BE MOVED INTO SAID SEWING MACHINE, SAID TRACKS IN TURN ENABLING SAID MAIN FRAME TO BE MOVED INTO SPACED RELATIONSHIP WITH SAID SEWING MACHINE WHERE SAID FINISHED PANEL SET MAY BE REMOVED FROM THE PANEL FRAME AFTER THE TURNTABLE HAS BEEN INVERTED TO ALLOW THE PANEL FRAME WITH THE FINISHED PANEL SET TO FACE UPWARDLY. 